Great photos but major compatibility problems with Windows XP

Hate to trash this camera except to draw attention to a major compatibility problems with Windows XP.

PROS: small size, sturdy casing, takes great pictures even on Auto which is easy to set, has more features than anyone should need in what for most will be a carry-in-ur-pocket point-n-shoot camera, great LCD (this is the first camera that I actually prefer to take photos via LCD but the viewfinder is a great backup for those sunny outdoor shots where all LCD’s get washed out). And has a neat color adjustment feature: you can alter/correct a photo, save it as a duplicate rather than overwrite the original so after you download you can choose which is better, the original or the altered one. Can save you time by not having to use Photoshop later.

CONS: And this is a major one. Impossible to download to Windows XP if you have another camera, scanner or multi-function printer/scanner connected to your computer without first disconnecting all those other imaging devices & rebooting your computer. And I don’t mean WHILE you’re using those other devices, just if they’re connected to your computer is enough to prevent this camera from downloading. And this is a pain if all you want to do is download a few pictures & get back to work. This is because Canon wants to “hog” that device manager and won’t share with other imaging devices. I have multiple cameras, scanners, printers & a multi-function machine and they all co-exist happily except the Canons which won’t share. Canon tech support knows of this defect and even mentions it in a small paragraph buried in the manual but since this is a known problem with ALL Canon imaging products, it should be noted in bold print on the box so you see it before you walk out the store.

However it’s an easy fix: buy a memory card reader for $40 but that means you’ll never use all the download features built into this camera.

And while I’m at it: no battery meter. All you get is a warning icon when the battery is low which only gives you a few minutes to change batteries. And since you can’t leave the battery in the charger more than 24 hrs, this means if you don’t use the camera regularly, and you don’t have 90 mins advance notice to charge the battery before you walk out the door, you always need a backup battery. Another $40.

So, this also means you’ll constantly be opening & closing the cover protecting the battery & memory card to remove & change them, and the cover/hinge are not that sturdy. I fully expect that to break so make sure you buy this camera from someone like Costco that has a no questions return policy.

And a final minor point – comes with a pitiful 16mb memory card which only holds 10-12 photos so count on buying more memory before walking out the store. Another $40. Most will do this anyway with any camera. But come-on, for Canon it would only cost a few dollars more to include a 256 or at least a 64mb card. How cheap can they get.

In short, be prepared to spend another $100 to overcome this camera’s shortcomings. But unlike other cameras, at least this camera’s problems can be fixed with more money. If you can afford it & work around these problems, it’s a great camera.